Morristown First Lady Gets Probation For Falsifying Report

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Morristown First Lady Mary Dougherty was sentenced Thursday to a year of probation for fourth-degree false swearing. The punishment stems from an illegal contribution she received as a candidate for Morris County Freeholder in 2018.

Dougherty pleaded guilty Feb. 19 to the accusation. She must forfeit the $10,000 campaign-contribution she received.

The real estate agent in Morristown fell short in the 2018 freeholder election. She is the wife Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty, who is not linked to the allegations.

Dougherty was charged December 2019 with second-degree bribery stemming from her 2018 candidacy for the county seat. She was one of five defendants charged in a state investigation focused on political figures in Hudson and Morris counties who solicited illegal campaign donations from a cooperating witness — a tax attorney — according to the Office of Attorney General.

In return, the defendants promised the cooperating witness they would vote or use their official authority to hire or continue to hire his law firm for lucrative government legal work, authorities said.

The other four defendants — all former public officials and political candidates — were indicted between Jan. 20 and Feb. 3.

She admitted that during her 2018 campaign, she received a $10,000 cash donation from the cooperating witness. But Dougherty returned it and asked him instead to provide four checks, each under the $2,600 limit for individual campaign donors.

Dougherty admitted that the cooperating witness gave her four checks — each for $2,500 — made out in the names of different individuals and entities. She knew that the full $10,000 contribution came from the cooperating witness.

She also confessed to reporting the false information about four individuals and entities named on the checks to the Election Law Enforcement Commission.

Dougherty was among five former public officials and candidates charged December 2019 in the corruption investigation. The other four were indicted in
the past month on the following charges:

Sudhan Thomas, former Jersey City School Board president

• Official misconduct (second-degree)
• Pattern of official misconduct (second-degree)
• Bribery in official and political matters (second-degree)
• Acceptance or receipt of unlawful benefit by public servant (second-degree)

Jason O'Donnell, former state assemblyman and former Bayonne mayoral candidate

• Bribery in official and political matters (second-degree)

John Cesaro, of Parsippany, former Morris County freeholder

• Official misconduct (second-degree)
• Bribery in official and political matters (second-degree)
• Acceptance or receipt of unlawful benefit by public servant (second-degree)
• Tampering with public records or information (third-degree)
• Falsifying or tampering with records (fourth-degree)
• Concealment or misrepresentation of contributions or expenditures (fourth-degree)

John Windish, former Mount Arlington council member

• Official misconduct (second-degree)
• Bribery in official and political matters (second-degree)
• Acceptance or receipt of unlawful benefit by public servant (second-degree)

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